This Sunday felt emotional in the best way. Pastor Ilya preached with honesty about where the church started, the prayers that shaped it, and what God is doing now. He talked about being “immigrant boys who didn’t even speak English,” walking malls and streets trying to tell people about Jesus, and praying all night for revival before any fruit was visible. Now, years later, the expansion is undeniable. Everett, Spokane, Renton and more places that are still coming.

Then the message moved to the main theme. 2026 is a year of new beginnings. Not only for the church, but for personal lives too. Marriage, finances, health, calling, and future.

He anchored it in Isaiah 43:
“Forget the former things… See, I am doing a new thing.”

That was not shared as a cute quote. It was a real call to let go. Many have carried disappointment, delay, and unanswered prayers, replaying the past like a loop. The challenge was clear. Stop living there.

One line that hit hard was:
“Sometimes a seed has to die… and when it dies, it enters a new beginning.”

The story of Ruth and Naomi was used to show what happens when life gets hard. Naomi’s family left Bethlehem, the “house of bread,” during famine and moved to Moab. It looked like relief, but it led to loss. The warning was clear. Do not abandon the promise when times get hard, and do not let hard times lead into compromise.

Here are the core takeaways:

• Hard seasons do not mean the wrong place. Do not leave the promised land just because it is difficult.
  
• Compromise is never worth it. Sin offers temporary relief, but it always takes more than it gives.
  
• If a new beginning is needed, forgiveness is key. Forgive others, forgive yourself, and release God from the blame the heart has been holding.
  
• Daily intimacy with Jesus is the pathway forward. Not just Sunday emotion, but real encounters with God every day.
  

One phrase summed it up well: “Intimacy produces fruitfulness.” A clean heart, a close walk with God, and faith for a new beginning is the reset many have been praying for.